Hardy's Secret Mens Business goes for Goal

by Sean Whittington on 23 Dec 2005 Three of Australia’s best yachtsmen will help the skipper/owner of Hardys Secret Mens Business attempt to achieve a lifetime goal by taking out Handicap honours in this year’s Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Competing in his 18th Sydney-Hobart race, Adelaide businessman Geoff Boettcher has enlisted the services of 1996 Olympic Games yachtsman Matt Hayes, as well as Carl Crafoord and Tony Powell, to form part of his 12-man crew.

Hardys Secret Mens Business was the ‘surprise packet’ of last year’s race, finishing ninth in Line honours in its maiden Sydney-Hobart race.

The 14.2 metre, Reichel/Pugh ocean-racing yacht ventures into Monday’s race start as one of the favourites for Handicap honours, following a series of on-board improvements in recent months.

A modified rudder and revamped sail inventory are the major modifications, as well as improved sleeping facilities for the crew.

‘We are in with a good chance – I have no doubt about that at all,’ race veteran Geoff Boettcher said.

‘We will go into the race knowing the boat is at its optimum - we have prepared her as best we can for this particular race,’ he said.

‘All we need is a little luck on our side, together with the entire crew working together to ensure the boat performs to the best of her ability.

‘That is one of the reasons why we have engaged the services of three former Olympic trials yachtsmen – Carl Crafoord, Tony Powell and Matt Hayes - to be part of our crew.

‘They will bring a new dimension of experience and professionalism to the boat, which will hopefully squeeze a little bit extra out of the rest of us.’

The Rolex Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race is regarded as one of the world’s most gruelling deep-sea sailing races, which last year claimed nearly half of the 116 competing yachts.


This year’s 628-nautical mile race has attracted an international field of 98 yachts, which will leave Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day headed for Hobart, Tasmania.

Last year’s Top Ten finish was the start of a successful 12-month racing campaign for Hardys Secret Mens Business.

In February, it completed a rare ‘triple act’, winning Line, IRC Handicap and Division One honours in South Australia’s premier ocean race, the Bluewater Classic from Adelaide to Port Lincoln.

And in August, the yacht took out Handicap honours (Division A) in the prestigious Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht race – an event second only in status to the Sydney to Hobart race on the sport’s national calendar.

That performance – against some of the fastest and biggest racing yachts in Australia – also saw Hardys Secret Mens Business achieve a Top Ten finish in Line Honours.

‘We are just raring to go. All we want to do now is get out on the water and see what we can do,’ Boettcher said.

‘Like every Sydney-Hobart, this year’s race is going to be extremely tough – we will be competing against a lot of experienced yachtsmen, who like us, will be striving to perform at the top of their game,’ he said.

‘We are confident of improving on our Top Ten finish last year. The boat is racing well, the crew is well prepared, and we know what it takes to compete against the best.’